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Despite the periodic rainstorms around the Cape Fear region Wednesday, crowds packed area Chick-fil-A restaurants for Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day. But the lines of cars had more to do with gay marriage than chicken.
Former presidential candidate-turned radio host Mike Huckabee deemed Aug. 1 Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day in support of the company CEO's statement recently in support of traditional marriage.
In a blog post, Huckabee encouraged people who believe in marriage between one man and one woman to "affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick-fil-A on Wednesday, August 1."
Though a Chick-fil-A spokesman said Wednesday that the restaurant is not affiliated with Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day and would not release official sale numbers.
The N.C. Values Coalition sent out an email campaign encouraging its membership to support Chick-fil-A on Wednesday as well. In the May 8 primary vote, the state's constitutional marriage amendment, Amendment One, passed in New Hanover County by a slim margin of 152 votes. It passed in North Carolina 61 percent to 39 percent.
At the Chick-fil-A restaurant at Mayfaire Commons near Wrightsville Beach, the 11:30 a.m. hour brought an overflowing lot of cars and a line out the parking lot for the drive thru. Plus, visitors parked in surrounding restaurant and bank parking lot streamed across the street to support the restaurant. On a typical Wednesday, the parking lot would still have open spaces before noon.
By 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Chick-fil-A on Oleander Drive still had a double line around the building for the drive-thru, and people waiting in line out the doorway. The usual lunch lines are light around 2 p.m., said manager Shaunetta Hill.
Though it's hard to say exactly how many customers came out because of the company's gay marriage stance, Hill said: "A lot of people are just saying thank you for standing up."
Amanda Greene: 910-520-3958 or
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Jana Greene | Aug 1, 2012 | 4:23pm
When Obama (whose policies I disagree with almost entirely) was elected, folks reminded me that “the people have spoken” in our country. True enough. But today, instead of polling places, Americans are supporting a conservative business in droves at Chick-fil-a restaraunts all over the country. These people are not “anti-gay” as many in the media would like others to believe; that’s a crock. The vast majority are hard-working, God fearing and loving individuals who support free-speech. They are tired of being branded as “haters” when they are actually lovers of the constitution. The people I personally know who visited Chick-fil-a today are amongst the most compassionate and respectful on the planet. They aren’t full of bluster, they just love other people, even when they don’t agree with a certain viewpoint/lifestyle and support the right for individuals and businesses to hold whatever conviction they may - that’s what makes America the land of the free. Boycotters have every right to make their viewpoint/lifestyle known in the marketplace. But today, the people have spoken.
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